ariannes-gibberish

[ariannes-gibberish]

The Cost Of Being A Woman

Everyone purchases products to meet their needs and desires regardless of gender. We save money from our allowance, jobs, side hustles, etc. to buy items for necessities or luxuries - although it’s been observed that products catered to women are more expensive than men’s. The disparity in pricing, known as the “Pink Tax”, refers not to an actual tax but to the tendency for products and services for women to be priced higher than for men. As Investopedia (2023) explains, the Pink Tax is not an actual tax, yet it makes women pay extra for their necessities and leisure even when they serve the same purpose as the ones for men. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a study in 2015 and found that women’s products are more than twice as likely to be priced higher than comparable men’s products to the degree that comparable products targeted to opposing genders are only equal in price approximately 40% of the time.

Women who are aware of it simply accept this tax since it is 'the way things are' and have no interest in looking further into why (Lafferty, 2020). Borj Lianko, 42, is one of those women, saying,“Kahit na may Pink Tax at mas napapamahal ako sa mga nabibili ko, I don’t mind na kasi yun naman mga kailangan ko as a woman.” Kardetoft (2022) then suggests that the “simple” solution to gender-based pricing is for women to start buying male-corresponding products since they fulfill their purpose the same as women’s products without the color and fragrance. It may sound logical yet it ignores the fact that some feminine products are designed specifically for biological needs. Borja stated that she doesn’t really have much of a choice. “When buying feminine products, of course, it’s for necessity din katulad ng pagbibili ng napkins and deodorant. Mahirap na hindi bilhin kasi we really need those.” Additionally, some women still prefer buying female-corresponding hygiene products solely for the sake of having proper hygiene. Mara Romilla, 19 years old, said that she still buys them despite the pink tax because she doesn’t want to smell like a man, which is unpleasant on her case.

Manzano et. al. (2018) found that women are willing to pay more for their products since they tend to consume to strengthen their gender identity and self-fulfillment. Women like Gwen Lopez, 19 years old, prefer to buy girly products because she just prefers them, she likes the pretty visuals and the feminine colors associated with it. “I just really (really) love the color pink and anything feminine. I don't care what the price difference is at this point”.

While Trisha Jaca, 18 years old, continues to buy since it helps her with her stress and it’s appealing to her eyes. “Nakakawala kasi siya ng stress, and ang attractive na magkaroon ng girly stuff sa kwarto mo. “ She also adds that buying them is a way to reward herself for her hard work or when she wants to make herself feel better.

Adding to Kardetoft’s suggestion, it also ignores the factors that play into why women feel like they have to buy these products in the first place. Necessity, gender identity, or femininity aren’t the only driving factors that make women keep buying female-oriented products. Advertisements play a big role in pushing them to keep doing so.

In Mara Romilla’s case, she tends to buy girly products that are advertised by K-Pop idols she’s a fan of. “Ang pinakabudol-worthy moment ko is nung naging advertiser si Jang Won-Young of IVE, formerly IZone because she's my ultimate bias. So, parang like, I feel that if I buy her products, magiging singganda ko yung balat niya.“ Indicating that in advertising women's products, businesses strategize to use celebrities -specifically those who are popularly good-looking- to effectively market their products.

Advertisements have also been observed to push certain beauty standards. It can be observed in advertisements for deodorants. A clear distinction is seen between how they are marketed to women versus men. Women's deodorants are often promoted with additional benefits like lightening, smoothing, and softening underarm skin. In contrast, men’s deodorants focus primarily on controlling sweat and smelling good, without any emphasis on making their armpits "beautiful." This difference highlights that while deodorants for both genders serve the same basic function—controlling body odor—women are pressured to meet additional beauty standards even in this context. Over time, these societal expectations have allowed businesses to capitalize on such beauty norms by offering products that cater to them.

A prominent key factor in advertising, especially in social media platforms, is the “Not Pretty Enough” narrative. Gwen has shared that on Tiktok during the quarantine, “Everyone started making obscure insecurities.” She added that she bought products that would make her calves and even her fingers slimmer because she watched videos and advertisements on how women would look better if they had those features. Similarly, Alaena and Trisha felt pressured to buy skin-whitening products just because it’s a standard to meet to be pretty. “As a young girl, I grew up thinking na mali yung skin color na meron ako, na hindi siya maganda. Like, I don't know why, why that's Kasi pati ako, na parang pati yung lotion whitening, pati yung sabon (na binibili).” Alaena stated.

Despite most women being aware of the pink tax or how costly it is to buy products, they still continue to do so. Gwen pointed out that she is okay with paying more since she just loves girly products. Mara added that it’s because it’s visually appealing, calling it “Instagrammable” and looks good for Pinterest - showing that some girls just like to buy products for the aesthetic they offer. On the other hand, some women have said that they keep buying these products because it’s what they have been buying for years, like it has become a routine for them to do so. “Nagsistick na lang ako dun sa hiyang ako. So, subconsciously, nagagrab ko na siya.“ Alaena expressed. Borja also added, “It’s what I am used to, and I’ve always liked using them din naman.”

While this shows that for many women, buying women’s products is not just about their function, but also the experience they offer—the aesthetic appeal, the sense of identity, and the lifestyle they represent. It’s also often because these are the products they have become familiar with and have used throughout their lives as women since it’s what they always see in advertisements and fellow women.

The pink tax can be interpreted as the extra tax that women are burdened to pay every day that stems from their desire to be viewed by society as “pretty” and “feminine.” This tax goes beyond the surface of price tags; it reflects the pressure women face to invest. The expectation to be seen as "pretty" and "feminine" often drives women to purchase gendered products that promise to enhance their beauty or align with these ideals. While there are women who still buy just because they feel like it and solely for preference, it can't be denied that social expectations on women still heavily influence these choices.

References: - Kardetoft, M. (2022). An investigation of gender-based price discrimination in the Swedish market for personal hygiene products - Bhatia, N., Moshary, S., & Tuchman, A. (2021). Investigating the Pink Tax: Evidence against a Systematic Price Premium for Women in CPG - Lafferty, M. (n.d.). The pink tax: The persistence of gender price disparity. http://research.monm.edu/mjur/files/2020/02/MJUR-i12-2019-Conference-4-Lafferty.pdf - Maloney, C. B. (2016, December). The pink tax how gender-based pricing hurts women’s buying power. https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/8a42df04-8b6d-4949-b20b-6f40a326db9e/the-pink-tax---how-gender-based-pricing-hurts-women-s-buying-power.pdf - Willett-Wei, M. (2015, April 25). Here’s proof women pay more for the same products men buy. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/womens-products-more-expensive-than-mens-2015-4

[ariannes-gibberish]

Breaking It Down Or Dumbing It Down? How Simplified News and Information and The Blend of Entertainment Impact Media Quality In Philippine Media.

- an argumentative research paper

With the vast amount of information all around us, may it be outside in the world where it's plastered on papers, billboards, or television, or inside in our devices that are connected to the internet where it is like an endless ocean of information - it is easy for people to be overwhelmed. Hence, mass media makes the news and information they put out simple and concise - easily digestible for people to consume. Even as a Communication and Media student who is on the path of pursuing media, we are already being taught to keep the news stories we write, short and simple. Across all media, short-form news is growing in popularity. Its appeal stems from its ability to match up with the needs of busy news consumers and condense, often, complex news into a style that is easy to understand. According to Claire Murphy, host of The Quicky, it is the “fast food” of journalism and appeals to people who are always on the go. In the Philippines, a large portion of people have varying degrees of literacy and education. Everyone, including people without formal education or much time to read in-depth reports, can benefit from simplified news. The media makes sure it reaches more people without excluding anyone by presenting complicated subjects in a straightforward and understandable manner - making it accessible to anyone. But then, to spice things up to make news even more attractive for people to consume they mix it up with entertainment, thus calling it “infotainment” - with so many entertainment options and alternative media platforms available, people who have no interest in politics o current affairs could easily avoid it entirely (Boukes, M. 2019). The surge of simplified news and infotainment indicates that mass media prioritizes not only the easier distribution of information but also to stay financially viable and maintain revenue. While mass media serves as a bridge, making critical information available to broader audiences who might be left out of public discourse because of their degree of education, this approach also risks encouraging a culture of passive consumption, where audiences prioritize the value of what is entertaining over what is substantial. The simplification of news and the use of infotainment is a double-edged sword, while it makes information accessible, it also takes away the chance for consumers to learn the importance of understanding the depth of the information they’re consuming - thus taking away the learning opportunity to be responsible media consumers with critical thinking skills.

The emergence of digital media and its domination against traditional media significantly reinforced the trend of simplified news in Philippine media. This posed a threat against the media giants GMA and ABS-CBN, once the main outlets for investigative journalism and in-depth reporting, which are under growing pressure to adapt to fast-paced, bite-sized content, preferred by online consumers. Social media platforms especially Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have created an environment where news is now consumed in bite-sized, attention-grabbing bits. Additionally, according to a 2023 study titled "We Are Social," Filipinos are among the most active online users in the globe, logging on for an average of four hours every day. This shift and recurring trend in the media landscape has led to a preference for sensational headlines and quick updates, often at the price of in-depth research in news telling. Mass media companies must fight for relevance in this hyperconnected environment with entertainment, advertisements, and personal content for viewers’ attention. Sensational headlines, short videos, and visually appealing pictures are preferred as a result; these strategies may be effective, but they often compromise depth. Both GMA's 24 Oras Express and ABS-CBN's TV Patrol provide brief video summaries of significant events in less than five minutes, frequently with text overlays or subtitles for ease of comprehension. These formats, which appeal to viewers with little time, are frequently shared on websites like Facebook and YouTube - to increase their chances of getting viewership, they often reduce complex in-depth stories to simple headlines or quick updates. For example, ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol posted a headline photo news card on Facebook that said “Presyo ng siling labuyo sa Metro Manila tumaas dahil sa bagyo” and upon checking the citizens’ responses, they didn’t take the news seriously and made jokes about it. But when you read their article, it says that chilis are perishable goods. Additionally, according to vendors, there is a shortage of chiles because harvesting them has been difficult due to unfavorable weather conditions. Both vendors and customers are impacted by the brief surge, even though the Department of Agriculture (DA) observes that these price increases typically level off after two weeks.

Another example is ABS-CBN News’ Facebook post with the headline “Sara Duterte says gov’t ignoring ‘threats’ to her life”, which garnered mixed reactions from citizens, most making jokes about it. Although the title is clear, it does not convey the article's narrative. She repeatedly highlights the government's inaction in responding to her allegations of danger throughout the piece. Though they are not completely represented in the headline, the article also discusses other important but secondary topics, such as her grievances on political persecution, the management of confidential funds, and the absence of due process for her employees. Another instance, GMA News’ Facebook post titled “Marcos a drug addict? 'I agree with the assumption,' says Sara Duterte”. Although the headline is attention-grabbing and highlights a controversial topic, it simplifies and focuses on just one claim: Sara Duterte's support for the "drug addict" accusation. However, by describing the political and familial tensions around the comment, as well as the history of similar charges and the relationship between Dutertes and Marcos, the article provides a more comprehensive context. The title is more sensationalized and concentrates on a headline-grabbing statement, even though it accurately describes the content. The claim's complex origins and further political context are given in the article.

Simplified news on social media often misleads or trivializes serious topics resulting in shallow engagement from audiences. For instance, readers react with humor rather than alarm to Abs-Cbn's headline about siling labuyo prices during a typhoon which minimizes the economic decline of weather impacts on agriculture. Similar to these, headlines like Sara Duterte believe that Marcos is a drug addict or Sara Duterte said the government ignores threats to her life oversimplify complicated political issues and cause emotions that are more centered on sensationalism than the larger political context. Although news is made up of event-focused texts, the number of descriptive sentences and sentence parts relating to non-essential information is significant. These descriptions may have nothing to do with any of the actual events, but they nonetheless add to the general intricacy of news (Glavas & Stajner, 2013). Even while these headlines are true they obscure complex news stories reducing intellectual engagement and promoting a more superficial understanding of important issues. A study titled “The Effect of Interest and Attitude on Public Comprehension of News with Data Visualization” by Sánchez-Holgado, et al, states that training and educating the public to raise demand for and interest in data-based information is pertinent because it fosters critical thinking and an understanding of scientific communication. But with the difficult access to quality education in the country and the continuing trend of news and information being reduced to simple and attention-seeking formats, developing people’s critical thinking and comprehension skills continue to be unreachable.

Philippine mass media giants such as GMA and ABS-CBN have monopolized much of the media field for decades, dominating the airtime on Filipinos’ televisions and other news platforms in the country. Their news programs, GMA’s 24 Oras and ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol have become staples in Filipino households, a family’s must-watch during the evening to catch up on daily news and current affairs. These networks have basically become part of Filipinos’ culture, their opinions, ideas, and beliefs have been shaped based on what they always see on their televisions and devices. For years, it has been noticed how these giants have been blending entertainment in delivering news, integrating programs such as GMA’s Chika Minute and ABS-CBN’s Star Patrol, to broadcast the latest updates about the latest celebrity gossip and entertainment news to farm engagement from the audience - blurring the line between information and entertainment. This trend shows that both mass media giants use infotainment to maintain their dominant positions in the media landscape, prioritizing commercial appeal and audience ratings over delivering the information the people must and should know. The problem with infotainment being part of the news for so long is that it has cultivated Filipinos’ mindset that entertainment updates are just as important as news about politics, social issues, etc. On social media, you can observe how celebrity gossip often overshadows real-life issues because they’re fun to catch up on.

The concern that the rise of infotainment is undermining the informative function of news and information has been a long-standing issue in the media. Critics argue that infotainment reduces public intellect and discourse. Neil Postman's critique in Amusing Ourselves to Death (1982, 1989), suggests that television journalism has turned into a show business where the goal is to entertain rather than to enlighten. He argues that this has created a situation where viewers consume decontextualized pieces of information that require minimal cognitive effort. Because of this, the mass media giants’ content frequently turns into a passive experience that, at best, promotes superficial understanding rather than stimulating critical thought or discussion.

While some will argue that the simplification of news and the use of infotainment helps in delivering news and information in a better, accessible way - the constant use of mass media giants risks diluting the substance of the information being shared with its audience. The Filipinos’ tendency to believe in misinformation and disinformation - contributing even to spreading these on social media platforms - has shown how many Filipinos lack critical thinking (Inquire.net, 2023). The ongoing consumption of simplified news, paired with a pervasive culture of infotainment in the Philippines’ mass media giants, nurtures a cycle where surface-level engagement and understanding become the norm. People are discouraged from delving deeper into stories in this setting, which keeps them from learning how to critically assess and analyze news reporting. Misinformation will continue to spread uncontrolled as a result of these behaviors, which poses a serious risk to the public's capacity to make educated judgments regarding significant societal concerns.

In a third-world country where it is ranked as 111th out of 199 countries in the latest WPR measuring IQ scores, it is important to take into account that the possible root of all of these issues that Filipinos face in consuming mass media content is the poor quality of education in the Philippines. While several studies have highly recommended improving the education system to better the intellect and mindset of Filipinos, it will also be an important step for mass media to take a step in contributing to improving Filipinos’ IQ and overall critical thinking. Improving the education system is ideal yet it is unreachable thus why the responsibility does not solely lie with it but also lies with mass media giants to elevate the quality of their content. Mass media giants can create a better-informed audience by prioritizing content over sensationalism, which will motivate viewers to interact critically with subjects rather than only watching entertainment-focused programming.

References: Boukes, M. (2019). Infotainment. In T. P. Vos, F. Hanusch, D. Dimitrakopoulou, M. Geertsema-Sligh & A. Sehl (eds.), International Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies; Forms of Journalism. Hoboken (NJ): Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118841570.iejs0132 Postman, Neil 1989. Amusing Ourselves To Death New York: Methuen. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2022/philippines https://aclanthology.org/R13-2011.pdf https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1064184/full https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/ff6ac80e-736b-542b-8f42-ae30bd86cbd4/content https://opinion.inquirer.net/163283/raising-the-filipino-iq

[ariannes-gibberish]

Framing Health And Science In Manila

- a reflection paper

When there’s a health crisis ongoing, the first thing people would do is to get information about it. With the recent news of Monkeypox also known as Mpox going around in the country lately, it is important for media news outlets to utilize their resources to inform the people but simply informing isn’t enough - the way information is delivered plays a crucial role in educating the masses. For instance, there’s a problem with how the local news are framing the recent reports: ABS-CBN news reported a new case of Mpox, and they stated that the virus surged and gained attention internationally in May 2022, the virus spreading “mostly among gay and bisexual men.” Additionally, the Department of Health (DOH) reported three new Mpox cases this month of September, detailing that the men had sexual encounters, other cases have also reported that most infected people have made sexual encounters. Due to how these reports were written, some of the public have made comments about how Mpoxmay be a disease carried by men in the LGBTQ community or maybe a sexually transmitted disease. Though that may not be the intention of these media outlets, it unintentionally creates harmful misconceptions. Associating Mpoxwith the LGBTQ community can lead to further marginalization and discrimination. Additionally, Mpox isn’t transmitted only through sexual contact - media outlets such as ABSC-CBN News have posted news, reporting that DOH urges the public to opt for “virtual sex” to avoid the cases of Mpox from increasing, thus adding to the misconception. While the statistics have indeed shown that most infected are part of the LGBT community and that they have a sexual history, it is important for these news outlets to immediately emphasize that the disease’s transmission isn’t limited to these factors. Mpox can affect anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. It doesn’t only spread through close physical contact, it can also be spread through respiratory droplets from infected people, airborne, and contaminated objects. Fortunately, media outlets such as Philstar and Rappler have made efforts to debunk these misconceptions.

While I appreciate the efforts of these media news outlets to inform the public and keep them aware of what is going on about Mpox, a lot can be improved on how they should be reporting during crucial times like this. We, the media, are the gatekeepers of information, a power and a responsibility that we must be careful with. We live in a generation wherein most people don’t bother to fact-check what they read and while it should be their responsibility to learn how to do so, it is also the media’s responsibility to battle misinformation by making sure that the information they disseminate is objective, factual, and properly vetted to help the community to make better-informed choices in facing a big health crisis like this. To ensure that the country have the right knowledge to protect themselves.

References:

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/19/doh-reports-new-mpox-case-no-travel-history-outside-ph-1138

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/monkeypox-not-sexually-transmitted-disease/

https://news.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/2024/9/6/virtual-sex-only-doh-clarifies-advice-on-avoiding-mpox-1930?fbclid=IwY2xjawFUt-hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYDX4xXPd9hNAVEUWUOnMKfpeSdU4Gh4_6FaMtEfUsqcrmbm8OWmcbyZhA_aem_DNgnToSpkn8N1Lffdnf93w

https://star35.philstarlife.com/news-and-views/635580-monkeypox-myths-misconceptions?page=4

[ariannes-gibberish]

SINAG Maynila | A Film Enthusiast's First Time

- a reflection paper

Getting the opportunity to attend SINAG Maynila Film Festival Caravan wasn’t really something that I expected this school year, but it’s an experience that I’ll be always grateful for as a Communication and Media Student. I’ve heard about this popular film festival ever since I took an interest in indie films back when I was in Junior High School, and even before that, I believe that I’ve watched enough variety of movies to consider myself a Cinephile. As an avid film lover, watching indie films that take place in, and inspiration from my country is quite enlightening especially since in the field of cinematography which is dominated by Western influences, I’ve noticed that there’s a trend in how movies are made. To attract audiences worldwide and make a good profit out of their productions,  it’s been a must for entertainment industries for their movies to have a high budget for production; be part of globally marketable genres such as action, superhero, and science fiction; and have a narrative that is simple and isn’t too complex for the general audience. Now as someone who wants to watch a film that is new, and doesn’t really follow the formula of most movies, watching indie films is a really refreshing experience - thus making my experience in SINAG Maynila enriching. 

The movie featured in the event was Ma’Rosa, a film that revolves around a family living in the slums of Manila. One day, their mother Rosa, and their father Nestor are arrested for dealing drugs, and their children embark on a frantic search to gather enough money to pay for their absurdly expensive bail set by the police for their release. Before watching the film, we watched the behind-the-scenes of the movie where the production team shared how they gathered material, filmed the scenes (which is 100% handheld instead of using tripods), edited and color-graded the scenes, and more. I noticed that they highlighted that they didn’t write any script since they didn’t want the cast to be “put in a box” and for the scenes to be as authentic as possible - this is what I was looking forward to the most. 

Moving on to my film-watching experience, I’m going to be frank and admit that I have mixed feelings towards it. What kept me from loving the film as a whole was the dialogue. While I understand that the filmmaker wanted the film to be as raw as possible, giving the actors the freedom to fully immerse and express their characters, I couldn’t help but be a little nitpicky over the repetitiveness of the dialogue - but maybe that’s just the critic in me since I’m the type who believes that the dialogue is a critical factor of any stories. But putting aside that comment of mine, I genuinely admire how raw the whole film is, it truly captures a glimpse of the unfiltered reality in the slums of Manila. The handheld camera work and the use of natural lighting make the whole experience feel so immersive and real, making it feel like you’re experiencing the movie with the characters themselves - the camerawork almost felt invasive as if I was spying people that I shouldn’t be watching since they have so much going on. Ma’Rosa wasn’t holding back when it showed not PG-friendly themes that happen in the slums. The film was far from polished and visually aesthetic - emphasizing the hard reality that the characters are facing, completely stripping away any romanticized view of poverty and survival. Unlike any movies that sensationalize and romanticize the struggles of Filipinos to fulfill the fantasies of the Filipinos, the film instead makes the audience confront uncomfortable realities -about corruption, moral ambiguity, and poverty- without sugarcoating these themes. By the end of the film, no justice was served, it simply ended in the scene wherein Ma’Rosa cries as she eats street food - on this note, it really compels you to reflect on how society is unfairly structured in ways that push the powerless and vulnerable people into impossible situations. Ultimately, the film left me with a sense of discomfort and a burden, a burden of knowing that there are people out there who are marginalized while I’m here in the comfort of my school watching a representation of it. 

Hearing insightful words from Brillante Mendoza himself during the Q&A really emphasized what we. Communication and Media students are here for this program: to be the voice for the voiceless, and to use our privilege to give them the spotlight to be seen and heard. As people who are supposed to be always aware of the realities of our world and the storytellers in the field, we have the responsibility to use our learnings and skills to shed light on issues that matter, issues that need to be brought up again and again so people don’t forget, to tell stories that need to be told. Mendoza’s stories and perspectives made me realize that being a Communication and Media student isn’t just about making content that we can profit or gain popularity from or learning technical skills; it’s about understanding the power of narrative, the impact of representation, and the importance of utilizing our skills and the media to open people’s eyes to the uncomfortable realities and to give a platform for the oppressed, and overlooked Filipinos.

[ariannes-gibberish]

Debugging An Essay

- a reflection paper.

On a Tuesday morning at school, our professor gave each one of us a paper and asked us to proofread it. As I read the paper, it felt like something was wrong, while it did have grammatical and punctuation errors that needed to be pointed out for the activity, there was something about it that was bugging me. As if despite the proper English and format, it felt like it wasn't really written from someone's mind and heart.

The proofreading activity was quite fun yet as someone who’s really not confident with their grammar, I couldn’t help but overthink every word if they’re right or wrong - especially if it was written in a style that I don’t like, especially its tone. But thankfully, I was able to get most of it right. The activity was an eye-opening experience to how I’ve been dependent on Grammarly when it comes to proofreading my own writing. While this tool has helped me work more efficiently, activities like these really make you realize that it is better to learn and improve your grammar on your own than rely on an AI tool to prevent situations like this where it feels you’re unable to finish a task without feeling helpless due to the absence of AI.

What was interesting about the activity was that it was actually made by an AI tool called “ChatGPT”, the answers were also made by it. When this was revealed to us students, it explained why the text itself felt off. While the AI did a good job at providing a structured and informative article, it also showed that it didn’t have the same authenticity and knowledge that a human possesses when writing an article on their own, it lacked the human touch and it felt too structured as if it was strictly following a template. It was quite amusing how the tool made mistakes that weren’t flagged as mistakes on its end, while we students managed to point them out. For instance, some of us pointed out how some parts of the article are redundant and I believe that the AI didn’t see this as an error since most of its data that is used to generate are probably from vast sources all over the internet.

As someone who has had fair use of ChatGPT, this tool really makes our tasks easier and it uses less time to finish them - this tool also helps when I’m having a difficult time brainstorming for ideas. But I’ve always noticed how limited the tool is in providing creative ideas, while it has given me a wide range of suggestions that might have not occurred to me before - it lacks depth. The ideas it generates aren’t fresh or innovative - it’s just patterns and data from pre-existing content, but I do have to admit that sometimes it has helped me get out of a mental block and has sparked inspiration at times when I need it the most.

Nonetheless, this activity proves that AI may be a helpful tool for generating content and assisting in finishing tasks but that’s just it, just a tool, and shouldn’t and should never be used as an alternative to humans. If there’s one thing that people keep forgetting is that AI doesn’t have our ability to think “outside the box” nor has perspectives that come from our lived experiences. Even if it provides the “perfect” output that we’re looking for, it doesn’t and will never have the “human touch” that makes our creations better, that an AI can never replicate. In the end, it is our humanity, insight, creativity, and lived experiences that breathe life into our work, that brings meaning to what we make.

While I understand the importance of working efficiently, we must take our time to learn how to create, make, craft, and write things on our own. It may take a while for us to be good at it but I believe that’s the beauty of it, to take our precious time honing our craft, to figure out how to make things on our own instead of relying on an AI tool for the results we need.